Post by Son of a Beek on Jun 1, 2014 15:29:19 GMT -5

The US needs to figure something out at left back if Omar Gonzalez isn't going to be ready. Timmy Chandler was absolutely awful today, and Demarcus Beasley isn't the answer either. Other then that it was a very solid effort today imo. Dempsey and Bradley were ace, Altidore played very well, and Jones has done a good job in that holding midfielder role. I wish Jurgen would let Beckerman play a little though. I wouldn't be too worried about the defense, because most of the attacks started from the left side, which will hopefully be okay when Omar comes back. The young players looked young, which isn't surprising. Biggest surprise was how well John Brooks played, he could be a solid option off the bench at CB

Post by billybuffalo on Jun 1, 2014 15:33:21 GMT -5

Agreed on Brooks, he looked good in the limited minutes he was given. I thought Eric Davis played well, too. I wonder if these young guys are going to get much playing time in the games that matter. If not, I don't understand putting them on the squad over Donovan. I hadn't heard the Julian Greene story until today either, hoping he develops into a future badass!

Post by Son of a Beek on Jun 1, 2014 15:40:44 GMT -5

Agreed on Brooks, he looked good in the limited minutes he was given. I thought Eric Davis played well, too. I wonder if these young guys are going to get much playing time in the games that matter. If not, I don't understand putting them on the squad over Donovan. I hadn't heard the Julian Green story until today either, hoping he develops into a future badass!

I don't expect Yedlin or Greene to get a ton of minutes, especially with the way they played today. I'm not upset that they didn't take Donovan. From they way the other players were talking about him in the 30 for 30 documentary, they made it pretty clear that they weren't too upset about him not making it

Post by uvajed on Jun 1, 2014 23:07:28 GMT -5

Anybody catch the article in the NY Times the other day about match fixing leading up to the 2010 Cup? If not, it was basically about the South African football authority outsourcing officials for some friendlies leading up to the cup, and essentially being infiltrated/bribed by Asian gambling syndicates. It was pretty incredible stuff.

Now I can't help but wonder about certain matches, especially friendlies. But what about WC matches in Brazil? There is a great football tradition there but also an atmosphere were corruption could alter results. And few events, if any, generate more interest from gamblers than the World Cup, especially in Asia where the gambling is largely unregulated and gamblers have a history of fixing matches.

Post by Son of a Beek on Jun 3, 2014 15:27:30 GMT -5

I went through game logs from this season, Johnson was playing alongside Altidore that game, I watched it. And I'm not saying a 4-4-2. A 4-2-2-2 is what I'm reffering to. What formation do you see them using? 4-3-3 with Bradley and Jones holding, Zusi in front of them, and Donovan and Dempsey out wide?

A 4-2-2-2 is a 4-4-2, dude. There is not a difference in how that system would be implemented just because you described it separating the wide midfielders from the central midfielders.

This is what the strongest front 6 the US can put together looks like:

Er, right. I'm aware of who Jurgen Klinnsman is. I just don't accept that Donovan wouldn't be an asset to the US. His set piece delivery alone sets him apart from anyone else on the roster, regardless of Klinnsman's impressive resume.

Not saying that this is the case here, but great players are not automatically great managers. You watch a lot of sports, you know that.

Post by Son of a Beek on Jun 3, 2014 17:13:35 GMT -5

First of all, fiendlies don't mean dick. Also, I still think a 4 4 2 would be a mistake in our group. And I stand by the front 6 as being our strongest.

Friendlies mean something if you're playing with your 23 man roster in the three Friendlies leading up to the World Cup. I think playing the diamond wide midfield that we've been using can be effective. Placing the holding midfielder behind Bradley allows him to create more chances, like the one against turkey on Sunday. Dempsey and Altidore up front is probably our best bet

Post by Redman's Meth on Jun 3, 2014 17:30:00 GMT -5

the rest catch a glimpse of an espn show and furiously google in an attempt to appear an authority on the subject.

I lived outside of London for 3 years when I was a kid so I was kind of indebted to loving European club soccer for life. I feel like I am in a minuscule minority of Americans who can watch a 0-0 or 1-0 game, and still enjoy it for the passing, skills, teamwork, etc. The flopping does piss me off, even though it's usually quite hilarious. Don't get me wrong, MLS and US soccer are close to being downright unwatchable. Euro and the Americas is where it's at. I'm hoping for a Germany v. Argentina final in Brazil.